Season 2 of the Women Warriors Podcast – One Episode & Bonus

Holding Space for Honesty, Healing & Hope.

As a bonus for signing up for the Women Warriors email list, you get the first two podcast episodes one day early! Please do us a favour and rate, review, and subscribe on iTunes! Please listen on our Libsyn account if you don’t have iTunes.

This second season is dedicated to Indigenous women sharing their healing stories. When I consulted my Elder about the theme of healing she told me to be careful about my language and be clear on what I offer. I am having conversations with Indigenous women about their work in healing and their personal stories. I do not offer Elders teachings or spiritual healings. I am abstaining from talking about any specific Indigenous teachings or ceremonies. If you have specific questions about spiritual healing please follow the protocol for Elders in your area and ask them.

My hope for you after listening to the show is that you feel less alone, and that you feel inspired to take action to help yourself and others through the personal stories and resources shared. My vision is to use this community to propel each other to success so that we have more Women Warriors in positions of power – in boardrooms, business, banking, universities, health care and politics.

Dr. Carrie Bourassa is a Chair in Northern & Indigenous Health and Senior Scientist at Health Sciences North Research Institute in Sudbury (HSNRI), Ontario and the Scientific Director of the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health (IAPH) at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She is Métis, belonging to the Regina Riel Métis Council #34. Dr. Bourassa is the first woman to be appointed as the Scientific Director of IAPH and shares how her perspective as a Metis woman guides her in this role.

On today’s episode Carrie shares:

Her academic journey from undergrad to Ph.D.

Her path to becoming a researcher.

The realization that her purpose was to serve community.

A snapshot of Indigenous health research over 15 years.

The importance of humility as an Indigenous researcher.

Being guided as a Metis woman in the position of Scientific Director of the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health.

Dr. Sonja Wicklum is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary. She has extensive experience in rural family medicine, preventive health, nutrition education, and obesity management. She is the co-founder of Women Warriors, and is passionate about preventing illness and contributing to a great Canadian healthcare system.

On today’s episode Sonja shares:

Why we started the Women Warriors program.

Her experience creating Indigenous based wellness programming.

Creating the Canadian Aboriginal Nutrition Deck (CANdeck).

Her role in obesity medicine.

Her top three obesity myths.

Explanation of weight bias.

Why Indigenous peoples have a higher rate of type II diabetes.

Her advice as a family medicine doctor to help Indigenous patients work better with their doctors.

The Reconciliation Speakers Series, hosted by Lakeland College is now taking place October and November. Please check out the details on the poster and save the dates. All of these events are free and open to the public.

“A vigil can take many forms, from a moment of silence, to a rally, to a community feast. All that is important is that you take some time on or around October 4th to mark the day. These gatherings serve to raise awareness and to provide support to families who have lost a loved one.”

For the first Women Warriors class of the new session I’ve asked all past and present Warriors to attend the MMIW Walk on Wednesday, October 4th at 7 pm at Lakeland College. We will meet in the cafeteria for speakers and a presentation by Mufty Matheson, founder of the Red Dress Photography Project based in Edmonton. I met Mufty at the Edmonton Public Library Forward Thinking Speaker Series – Reconciliation with Chief Wilton Littlechild and Dr. Marie Wilson in February. I’m happy she’s making time to travel to Lloydminster. Please watch this CBC Indigenous interview with Mufty as she tells her story of how she started this powerful project.

“Family members of Jeanette Marie Chief and Violet Heathen sat in an Edmonton courtroom and wiped away tears as violent details of their loved ones’ deaths were revealed after Gordon Alfred Rogers, 60, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. Both women were from Onion Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan near the border with Alberta, and both first encountered Rogers at the Alberta Hotel in Lloydminster, according to an agreed statement of facts.”

We will be meeting in Onion Lake on Monday, October 2nd to discuss moving the program January 2018. Dr. Wicklum will be in attendance at the pre-program talk at 7 pm on the 2nd. On the 10th Primary Care Registered Dietican, Heather will present. On the 16th meditation instructor, Malcolm will teach beginner mediation.

The conference description states:
This is an opportunity to learn from Indigenous Health Practice (Including the Social Determinants of Health) and to learn about contemporary Indigenous Health Research in Canada. This is an opportunity for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Peoples to come together, and to learn together in the spirit of reconciliation.